Departure of Lord

Krsna for Dvārakā

by Sudevi dasi

Based on the Based on the Teachings of His Teachings of His

Divine Grace A.C. Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Bhaktivedanta

Swami Swami PrabhupadaPrabhupada

SB 1.2.4narayanam namaskrtya

naram caiva narottamamdevim sarasvatim vyasam

tato jayam udirayet Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-Narayana Rsi,

the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila

Vyasadeva, the author.

SB 1.2.18nasta-prayesv abhadresunityam bhagavata-sevayabhagavaty uttama-slokebhaktir bhavati naisthiki

By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of

Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

So far…• How did the greatest of all religious men, Mahārāja Yudhisthira, assisted by his brothers, rule his subjects? • How Yudhisthira pleased Krsna.• SP on The Ideal Government.• Krsna’s departure to Dvaraka• All nearly fainted because it was impossible for them to bear separation from Lord Krsna.

SB. 1.10.11-12SB. 1.10.11-12Intimate Association of Krishna & Intimate Association of Krishna &

PandavasPandavas

•Living Entity in the Material world eternally engaged in sense gratification.•The release is only possible in association

and Hearing from the Pure devotee, can know his eternal position as servant of the Lord.•Material bondage (Home, Society,

Friendship) are different phases of Lust, 3 fold miseries are concomitant factors. Just by Hearing about SPOG (all attractive) these can be slackened. • What about Pandavas who were constant

companion of the Lord – attraction is much more intense because of their constant companion of the Lord.

The intelligent, who have understood

the Supreme Lord in association with

pure devotees and have become freed

from bad materialistic

association, can never avoid hearing

the glories of the Lord, even though they have heard them only once. How, then, could

the Pāndavas tolerate His

separation, for they had been intimately associated with His person, seeing Him

face to face, touching Him,

conversing with Him, and sleeping, sitting and dining

with Him?

SB. 1.10.13SB. 1.10.13 Lord Krishna – All AttractiveLord Krishna – All Attractive

Once this relation is slightly revived, the conditioned soul at once

becomes freed from the illusion of material energy and becomes mad

after the association of the Lord. This association is made possible not only

by personal contact with the Lord, but also by association with His name, fame, form and quality. Çrémad-Bhägavatam trains the conditioned soul to this stage of perfection by submissive hearing

from the pure devotee.

All their hearts were melting for Him on the

pot of attraction.

They looked at Him without

blinking their eyes, and

they moved hither and thither in

perplexity.

SB. 1.10.14-15SB. 1.10.14-15The female relatives,

whose eyes were flooded with tears out of anxiety for Krsna,

came out of the palace. They could

stop their tears only with great difficulty.

They feared that tears would cause

misfortune at the time of departure.

******While the Lord was departing from the

palace of Hastināpura, different types of drums — like the mrdańga, dhola,

nagra, dhundhurī and dundubhi — and flutes of different types, the

vīnā, gomukha and bherī, all sounded

together to show Him honor.

•Krsna Leaving, tears began to flow from their eyes. Checked tears because they might cause misfortune.

Devotee’s Love for KrsnaDevotee’s Love for Krsna

Therefore directly or indirectly anyone who thinks of Kåñëa, talks

of Kåñëa or worships Kåñëa becomes attached to Him. Because

Kåñëa is absolute, there is no difference between His name, form, quality, etc. Our intimate relation with Kåñëa can be confidentially revived by our talking of, hearing of, or remembering Him. It is so done due to spiritual potency.

SB. 1.10.16SB. 1.10.16Shyness – Natures gift to Shyness – Natures gift to

WomenWomen

Out of a loving desire

to see the Lord, the

royal ladies of the Kurus got up on top of the palace, and smiling

with affection and shyness,

they showered

flowers upon the Lord.

Shyness is a particular extra-natural beauty of the fair sex, and it commands respect from the opposite sex.

This custom was observed even during the days of the Mahäbhärata, i.e., more than five thousand years ago. It is only the less intelligent persons not well versed

in the history of the world who say that observance of separation of female from male is an introduction of the Mohammedan period in India. This incident from the Mahäbhärata period proves definitely that the

ladies of the palace observed strict pardä (restricted association with men), and instead of coming down in

the open air where Lord Kåñëa and others were assembled, the ladies of the palace went up on the

top of the palace and from there paid their respects to Lord Kåñëa by showers of flowers. It is definitely

stated here that the ladies were smiling there on the top of the palace, checked by shyness. This shyness is a gift of nature to the fair sex, and it enhances their

beauty and prestige, even if they are of a less important family or even if they are less attractive. We have practical experience of this fact. A sweeper woman commanded the respect of many respectable gentlemen simply by manifesting a lady's shyness. Half-naked ladies in the street do not command any respect, but a shy sweeper's wife commands respect

from all.

Human civilization, as conceived of by the sages of India, is to help one free himself from the clutches of illusion. The material beauty of a woman is an illusion

because actually the body is made of earth, water, fire, air, etc. But because there is the association of the

living spark with matter, it appears to be beautiful. No one is attracted by an earthen doll, even if it is most perfectly prepared to attract the attention of others. The dead body has no beauty because no one will

accept the dead body of a so-called beautiful woman. Therefore, the conclusion is that the spirit spark is beautiful, and because of the soul's beauty one is

attracted by the beauty of the outward body. The Vedic wisdom, therefore, forbids us to be attracted by false beauty. But because we are now in the darkness of

ignorance, the Vedic civilization allows very restricted mixing of woman and man. They say that the woman is considered to be the fire, and the man is considered to be the butter. The butter must melt in association with fire, and therefore they may be brought together only

when it is necessary. And shyness is a check to the unrestricted mixing. It is nature's gift, and it must be

utilized.

SB. 1.10.17-18SB. 1.10.17-18Material Opulences – Natures Material Opulences – Natures

giftgift

At that time Arjuna, the great

warrior and conqueror of

sleep, who is the intimate friend of the most beloved

Supreme Lord, took up an

umbrella which had a handle of jewels and was

embroidered with lace and pearls.

***Uddhava and

Sätyaki began to fan the Lord with decorated fans, and the Lord, as

the master of Madhu, seated on scattered flowers, commanded them

along the road.

Gold, jewels, pearls and valuable stones were used in the luxurious

royal ceremonies. They are all nature's gifts and are produced by

the hills, oceans, etc., by the order of the Lord, when man does not waste

his valuable time in producing unwanted things in the name of

necessities.

SB. 1.10.19SB. 1.10.19Lord Krishna’s Absolute in Lord Krishna’s Absolute in

NatureNature

It was being heard here and there that the benedictions being paid to Krsna were

neither befitting nor unbefitting

because they were all for the Absolute, who

was now playing the

part of a human being.

•benedictions were fitting in the sense that the Lord was playing the part of a human being, as if a cousin of Mahārāja Yudhisthira•unfitting because the Lord is

absolute and has nothing to do with any kind of material relativities. He is nirguna, or there are no material qualities in Him, but He is full of transcendental qualities.•Eg. Thief, inspite of all

contradictions He is still The SPOG.

SB. 1.10.20SB. 1.10.20Prayers of the devoteesPrayers of the devotees

Absorbed in the thought of the transcendental qualities of the

Lord, who is glorified in

select poetry, the ladies on the roofs of all the

houses of Hastināpura

began to talk of Him. This talk

was more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas.

•Glories of SPOG – Vedic Literature, Ramayana, Mahabharata.•Songs of Narottama das thakura as good

as Shruti Mantra, because of subject matter (VCT)The ladies, who were all absorbed in the thought

and actions of the Lord, developed the consciousness of Vedic wisdom by the grace of the Lord. And therefore although such ladies might not have been very learned scholars in

Sanskrit or otherwise, still whatever they spoke was more attractive than the Vedic hymns. The Vedic hymns in the Upanisads are sometimes

indirectly directed to the Supreme Lord. But the talks of the ladies were directly spoken of the Lord, and thus they were more pleasing to the heart. The ladies' talks appeared to be more

valuable than the learned brāhmanas' benedictions.

SB. 1.10.11-20 SummarySB. 1.10.11-20 Summary• Intimate and personal association of Pandavas & Lord Sri Krishna, unable to bare separation, similar was the case with other residents.

• Lord Krishna is All Attractive and Absolute. No difference between Him and His Name, Fame & Quality. Our intimate relation with Kåñëa can be revived by our talking of, hearing of, or remembering Him under the guidance of pure devotee.

• Shyness, natures gift to women, must be respected and utilized.

• Talks between the ladies more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas.

Thank You…Thank You…

ReferencesReferencesSB Classes given by Srila Prabhupada

Unveiling the Lotus Feet

Bhakti Vaibhava Classes given by HG Bhurijana Prabhu

www.rompadaswami.com classes on Canto 1 Chapter 10.11-20